With the Special Olympics World Winter Games hitting Anchorage slopes at Alyeska and Hilltop ski areas next week, local skiers and boarders will have a chance to witness a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Beyond the sights and sounds of the Games, Alpine enthusiasts should enjoy plenty of great skiing as well.

Down at Alyeska, where snow has been falling on and off all week, less than 10 percent of the mountain's terrain will be used for the Special Olympics Alpine ski races, leaving the rest of the mountain to the public. At Hilltop, site of the snowboarding events, the public will be able to ski and board on slopes adjacent to the competition venue.

Even at the smaller Hilltop Ski Area, two-thirds of the mountain will be open to the public for skiing and boarding.

"So much of what people have been hyping has been about the masses of people who will be here," said Alyeska general manager Larry Daniels. "We don't want (local skiers) to think that there won't be any room for them during this event."

At Alyeska, Special Olympics officials have seven huge tents set up as a base of operations for the athletes, their coaches and volunteers. All staging and catering will take place in the tents, said Alpine venue coordinator Lex Patten.

All the Alyeska base and mountain facilities are open to the public, as always.

As for traffic concerns, Alyeska marketing manager Cella Baker said the athletes and Games personnel will arrive early each morning by bus, well ahead of the average day skier.

The races, which start Tuesday with the downhill, all take place on the lower mountain: novice and celebrity skiers on the Lower Prince Run; intermediates on Tanaka Hill and advanced skiers starting at Waterfall and ending in front of the Daylodge.

"The race venues are separated from where the general public will be," Patten said, "but the viewing opportunities are certainly there for people to watch the athletes compete and cross the finish line at the base of (each venue)." There's no charge to watch.

Daniels said he sees another opportunity offered by the Games.

"I think it does showcase our mountain, but more importantly, it showcases Anchorage and Alaska as a winter destination," Daniels said.

"People will see that (Southcentral) Alaska is a pretty temperate place in the winter."

Reporter Sepp Jannotta can be reached at sjannotta@adn.com.

ALPINE SKI AREAS

ALYESKA: 22- to 206-inch base and snowing as of 4 p.m. Thursday. Powder and packed powder. For the lastest conditions, call 754-7669.

HILLTOP: 20-inch base, groomed packed powder. Open for night skiing every day (346-2167 hotline).

ALPENGLOW: A foot of new powder is currently sitting atop a 40-inch base. Skiing should be fantastic this weekend. Call the hot line at 428-1208.

NORDIC SKI AREAS

BARTLETT: With this last thaw-freeze, trails are somewhat icy but once the Nordic Ski Club groomers get to them, conditions should be excellent. Call the Nordic Ski Club hotline (248-6667) for the latest info.

CHESTER CREEK: Trails are a little chunky and icy.

CHUGIAK: Groomed with some tracks set but a little firm. Eagle River Nordic Club hotline is 694-2597.

COASTAL TRAIL: City groomers hit the Coastal Trail Thursday and conditions should be vastly improved.

HILLSIDE: Everything was groomed Thursday and tracks are in place. The skiing is good and fast.

KINCAID: Margeaux's Loop is in good shape and the Nordic Ski Club groomers are working on other trails. With the Special Olympics Nordic racing scheduled for the stadium, the Mize Loop and part of the Lekisch Loop next week, groomers are asking skiers to please be gentle with the tracks set in these areas. Call the Nordic Ski Club hotline (248-6667).